Engagement Party Q's

The problem with a park is that you can't serve booze legally. I mean, I know since covid there has been talks about not policing drinking at parks anymore but I feel like that's more for the casual sip of a beer on a picnic blanket, not a full out event where booze is actually served.

Since you're planning to have your wedding at home, I would personally find a casual bar/pub type of atmosphere where people order their own food and drink. And plus, you don't want the pre-wedding events to feel like they're outdoing the actual wedding itself.

In that case, cash bar is fine. It'd be like going to a birthday party kind of a vibe.

That makes sense! We are considering our backyard for our actual wedding, so I'm hoping to have an engagement party somewhere else lol! I think a park where we can bring our own food & drinks will be ideal, but still searching!

Thank you for the input! We are totally happy to do food & drinks ourself if there's a park we can rent out or something - but we don't have the budget for an open bar at a restaurant if that's how we go, but we would do passed apps/snack buffet.

I would love a park we can rent out, but still searching. Vendors seem hesitant to even quote right now with the changing guidelines! Hopefully we come across something!

Hey Hank!

We are pretty casual! Wedding will either be at a campground, or in our backyard - so we are open to a casual engagement party as well! Very small bridal shower (25ppl or under) and no stag & doe!

I've only been to one engagement party and it was just like if you went to that bar to have a drink, guests paid the bar. I would not expect open bar at an engagement party We are hoping for the same thing except we will be using our backyard!

I would not expect free food or an open bar at a patio/restaurant for a friend's engagement party. I would fully expect to be paying for my own meal/drinks and potentially covering part of the engaged couple's bill. People are already expected to spend way too much money on weddings and spending thousands more on an engagement party is unreasonable. If money is no object and you want to pay for everything then go for it, but I don't think anyone will have this expectation.

But I also don't think engagement parties need to be this big elaborate thing. I've never personally been to one as I'm not sure how popular they actually are, but I would expect something quite low key and intimate rather than a formal event. I think if you can find an outdoor space where you can bring your own food/drinks or doing something potluck style and BYOB would be a really good option that wouldn't break the bank.

What kind of vibe are you going for? Like a casual night out or something more formal?

Are you looking to host other wedding related events like a bridal shower and Jack and Jill down the line?